Manly call for NRL extra-time rethink

Manly have renewed calls for a rethink of the NRL's contentious extra-time policy after Monday's 10-10 draw with Melbourne.

The golden-point period of Monday's match again degenerated into a series of field goal attempts with neither side coming close to scoring a try in the 10-minute overtime period.

Initially promoted as a worthy way to decide a close game, entertaining football has become a rarity in golden point and tries have become scarce in the extra period. The past 12 golden-point games that did not end in a draw were all decided by a field goal.

Going back to the start of 2011, there have been 22 golden-point games - 18 have been decided by field goals, three have been drawn and one has been decided by a penalty goal.

With the golden-point period often becoming a game of chance, Manly hooker Matt Ballin said the welfare of the players needed to be first and foremost in the minds of the NRL rulemakers.

"They get their value out of the players this time of the year," Ballin said on Tuesday.

"I think it is more stress on the body you don't need. After 26 rounds and four weeks of finals each year, it's hard for the players to keep doing that each week and keep on playing high-quality football.

"When you put that extra 10 minutes on, it makes it very tough for the players. Obviously, they want a result but, last night, we didn't get that result so ..."

Manly's home-and-away draw has also come under fire, with the side being forced into a five-day turnaround with a match against Canberra on Saturday.

They are not the only side asked to do that this year. Melbourne also play the Sydney Roosters on Saturday.

"Like I said before, it is probably more stress on the body we don't need," Ballin said.

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